Plane - Rental Car - Aquarium Timing

Question

Hello -

Is an 2 hours enough time to get from the plane to the Aquarium?

This might be a little hard to answer, so only looking for general arrival time to the Georgia Aquarium to try and book tickets and reservations for extras there.

Completely understand many things can go wrong - so if it is better to just wait until I land and book everything, let me know!

Details: Arrive at 9am on a Wednesday. Have 3 Adults, 4 Toddlers with checked bags and carseats. Keeping in mind we will have bathroom stop, loading carseats, giving snacks, and I'm sure a toddler (or adult) breakdown or 2. I'm thinking 2 hours should be enough time but have always only done a layover or driven through Atlanta. Never an actual trip there.

Thanks!

Answer

For your situation, 2 hours should be enough time to get from the plane to the Georgia Aquarium, but it will depend on a few variables. Here’s a general breakdown of what you should consider to help you plan your arrival time:

1. Arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL):

9:00 AM Arrival: Your flight arriving at 9:00 AM should give you a good window to navigate through the airport. However, you will need to go through a few steps: disembark the plane, go through immigration (if necessary), collect your checked luggage, and proceed to the car rental area.
Checked Bags and Car Seats: Since you have checked bags and car seats, this may take a bit longer. Loading the car seats into the rental car will require some time as well, especially with toddlers in tow. It's important to factor in the time to retrieve your bags from baggage claim.

2. Transportation to the Aquarium:

Distance: The Georgia Aquarium is about a 20-minute drive from the airport, assuming traffic is light. However, if you're traveling during rush hour or dealing with any unexpected delays, this could take longer.
Car Rental: If you're picking up a rental car, make sure you're aware of the rental car center’s location and plan for a bit of extra time to get there and complete the paperwork. The car rental center is on the airport grounds, but it can take a few minutes to walk there from your arrival gate.

3. Bathroom and Breaks with Toddlers:

With toddlers, you'll likely need a bathroom break, and they may need a snack or some time to stretch their legs. These breaks should be accounted for in your two-hour timeframe. It’s also a good idea to keep the toddlers entertained and calm during transitions between the airport and the car rental process.

4. Booking Aquarium Tickets and Extra Experiences:

Since you’re planning to book tickets and additional experiences at the Georgia Aquarium, I recommend purchasing tickets online ahead of time to save time once you arrive. The aquarium gets busy, and by booking in advance, you can avoid waiting in line to buy tickets.
If you’re planning to do any special experiences (like animal encounters or VIP tours), I’d recommend confirming the timing once you arrive in Atlanta, especially if you're unsure about how much time you’ll need to get settled.

5. Time Buffer:

Although 2 hours is typically enough, things can go wrong (flight delays, longer than expected wait times for luggage, traffic), so you might want to plan to give yourself a little flexibility. It's a good idea to arrive at the aquarium just before your timed entry if you've booked tickets in advance, but you might consider giving yourself a cushion of 15-30 minutes more if you're worried about delays.

Summary:

Two hours should be sufficient, but you’ll need to consider the time required for luggage pickup, car seat installation, bathroom stops, and any other toddler-related delays. I would recommend booking your aquarium tickets and any extras ahead of time, and aiming to arrive at the aquarium as close to your scheduled entry time as possible. If you want to be extra cautious, leaving a 15-30 minute buffer could help reduce stress, especially when dealing with young children.

Plane - Rental Car - Aquarium Timing

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